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The TennesseanThu, 13 Mar 2014 22:16:58 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Vanderbilt’s AD discusses future of football coach James Franklinhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2014/01/01/vanderbilts-ad-discusses-future-of-football-coach-james-franklin/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2014/01/01/vanderbilts-ad-discusses-future-of-football-coach-james-franklin/#commentsWed, 01 Jan 2014 22:22:28 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=2697HOOVER, Ala. – Vanderbilt athletics director David Williams said that people have contacted him about speaking with football coach James Franklin, though he declined to say which universities or NFL teams have done so.

Williams, who was in Nashville on Wednesday while the Commodores prepared for the BBVA Compass Bowl by working out at Hoover High School, added that Franklin’s long-term contract could be amended once the season-long evaluation process is completed sometime after Saturday’s game (noon CT; ESPN) against Houston.

Franklin was given new deals after each of his first two seasons in Nashville. Williams was clear to point out that amending a contract would not be the same as awarding a new contract.

“An adjustment of a contract can happen without there being a new contract, and we do that with all of our coaches as they are warranted,” Williams said. “Are there ongoing evaluations and discussions at the end of a season? Absolutely. Will there be here at this time (with Franklin)? Absolutely.

“It seems to me that people can look and make the determination. Do I think James has done a very good job? Absolutely. Based on that, if I were sitting down and evaluating, the evaluation would be: ‘Very good job.’ I think I’ve made myself sort of obvious in the sense that once those evaluations are done, we do things (to contracts) in respect to that. What I don’t want to see is, ‘Williams says there is a new contract or an extension, because that’s not what I’m saying.’ We’re going to evaluate and we’re going to move based on that evaluation. The evaluation looks awfully good.”

Williams has dealt with teams taking an interest in his coach before, but not to this degree. Franklin has been listed as a top candidate for multiple jobs, including Texas and Penn State.

A report from Orangebloods.com stated that Texas has already spoken with Franklin. Franklin declined to comment on Wednesday when asked if that report was accurate.

“We don’t comment on that. You can ask Texas,” Williams added. “I’d be answering questions from here to doomsday if I have to answer every opening and whether a school has contacted us. It seems the better place is to ask the contacting school. They’re in a better position to tell you. If those places aren’t willing to talk about it, why in the world would we want to talk about it? I don’t know of any discussions (Franklin has had) with anybody.

“People have called. That’s pretty much the same thing that I’ve said, and it’s better to ask that college or that team who they have contacted. I think that’s only fair to them. They’re the ones that have to deal with their candidates. It would be inappropriate for someone in our situation to say something that’s counterproductive to what they’re trying to do.”

What Williams is trying to do is keep Franklin right where he is. In three seasons, Franklin has led the Commodores to 23 wins and three bowl games with the potential for back-to-back nine-win seasons if they beat Houston at Birmingham’s Legion Field.

Vanderbilt’s level of commitment has evolved off the field as well as on it since Franklin arrived. The school opened its new indoor practice facility, the centerpiece of a $31 recreation center expansion project, on Nov. 5.

The proposal to approve the building of a new training room facility, a project for which most of the funds have been raised, is expected to be brought before the Board of Trust in February. There are plans for extensive renovations to Vanderbilt Stadium, but those haven’t been finalized and aren’t being hurried due to the rarity of such a project, Williams said.

Asked if he was concerned about Franklin taking another job before his contract could be amended, Williams said he didn’t know how to answer that.

“On one hand, we do have a contract,” Williams said. “On the other hand, I don’t quite know how you deal with that in the sense that those things can happen at any time. I haven’t figured out a foolproof way where you stop that. You guys in the media just reported that (Florida State coach) Jimbo Fisher just signed a big extension, but about an hour and a half later it came out that it doesn’t rule him out going to Texas.

“I have a football coach. I’ll do everything in my power to keep the football coach I have. You’re really asking a question that I can’t answer. That’s something that other people would have to make a determination on. That’s something we at Vanderbilt really don’t have any control over. You don’t even know what a person is motivated to make decisions on in many cases. We have a football coach, the football coach we hired. We love our football coach. We’re going to do all that we can to make sure that he is the football coach at Vanderbilt in the future.”

Three years ago when he gave Franklin his first head coaching job, Williams said he kept a fluid, updated list of coaching candidates for football as well as other sports. Williams was asked if his list of possible replacements was ready in the event that Franklin leaves.

“James Franklin is the football coach at Vanderbilt,” Williams remarked. “I really don’t need any other candidates.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2014/01/01/vanderbilts-ad-discusses-future-of-football-coach-james-franklin/feed/0Vanderbilt’s James Franklin asked about Texas head coaching jobhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2013/12/16/vanderbilts-james-franklin-asked-about-texas-head-coaching-job/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2013/12/16/vanderbilts-james-franklin-asked-about-texas-head-coaching-job/#commentsTue, 17 Dec 2013 01:48:09 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=2691Vanderbilt football coach James Franklin talked around a question about being a potential candidate for the Texas head coaching job that opened up when Mack Brown resigned over the weekend.

Franklin’s name has been mentioned in numerous TV, print and web reports as someone the Longhorns are likely to consider.

Franklin was asked what he thought of the Texas job and if the position would interest him after the Commodores concluded practice on Monday evening. Vanderbilt (8-4) will face Houston (8-4) in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4 in Birmingham.

“Really excited about the program-development period that we’re in right now and working with these young guys,” Franklin said. “Really excited about playing Houston. We’ve watched them on film. I think they’re really talented. I think it’s going to be a challenge for us.

“That’s what our focus is. Any of those other things, you know, we don’t talk about that are outside of our area of control or focus or concern. We’re focused on getting better as an organization and then getting ready for Houston.”

Franklin boasts a 23-15 record in three years at Vanderbilt and has taken the Commodores to a bowl in each of those seasons. Vanderbilt had been to just four bowls in its history prior to Franklin’s arrival.

Vanderbilt is 15-4 in its last 19 games – the second best mark of any SEC team over that stretch behind only Alabama.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2013/12/16/vanderbilts-james-franklin-asked-about-texas-head-coaching-job/feed/0Women’s golf finishes final round in 10th at NCAAshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/22/womens-golf-finishes-final-round-in-10th-at-ncaas/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/22/womens-golf-finishes-final-round-in-10th-at-ncaas/#commentsSun, 22 May 2011 05:58:20 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=1633The Vanderbilt women’s golf team ended its second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance in a tie for 10th with Florida at The Tradition Golf Club in Bryan, Texas, with a final team score of 1,196 (297-294-304-301).

Sophomore Anna Leigh Keith paced the effort with a five-over-par 293 (72-72-74-75), which tied her for 15th in the individual competition.

Saturday’s round, which began an hour late because six teams had to finish their third round in the morning, presented a whole new set of conditions for the teams in the field after clouds dumped some needed rain overnight in the Bryan area. The wind also subsided, and although the course played a little longer, players honed in on the final-round pins and shot lower numbers.

The Commodores were one of those teams who had no trouble placing the ball on the greens, but had a harder time converting their opportunities.

“We had some three-putts,” Vanderbilt Coach Greg Allen said. “I know Marina was frustrated with her putting, because she felt like she hit the ball really well. We just didn’t hit any putts. Overall, I think we hit the ball well.

“I think the conditions were ideal. There was not a lot of wind, and it was hot and humid. It was a little wet, the greens were a little more receptive, but we had no wind compared to the previous three days.”

Keith, who led the Commodores heading into the final round, fired a three-over par, 75, on Saturday, and ended the tournament in a tie for 15th. Junior Marina Alex posted the team’s best round of the day with a one-over, 73, and finished in a tie for 22nd, while the Commodores also counted a 76 from sophomore Lauren Stratton (76-74-76-76-302, T-53) and a 77 from senior Megan Grehan (80-76-83-77-316, T-108). Freshman Rene Sobolewski carded a final-round 81 and ended the tournament in a tie for 88th place with a final total of 310 (77-72-80-81).

“It was a phenomenal tournament for (Keith),” Allen said. “She’s been strong since SEC’s and just had a great tournament. I’m really excited for her. She played some great golf this week and she’s got a bright future ahead of her.”

UCLA won a closely contested final round over second-place Purdue by four strokes with a total of 1,173 (289-295-294-295). Both teams battled for the top spot for most of the day. LSU, the top finishing SEC team, finished in third with a 29-over-par 1,181 (292-296-303-290).

LSU’s Austin Ernst claimed medalist honors with a seven-under par, 281 (72-66-77-66), and her final round included a hole-in-one on number two. Keith, who played with Ernst in her round on Saturday, also saw a hole-in-one from Virginia’s Brittany Altomare on hole 16 on Friday.

“I told the team when we finished that I would have taken a 10th place finish standing on the 11th tee at regionals when we were making double bogeys and triple bogeys,” Allen said. “I’ll take this. This was a learning experience for us the last two days on how to handle some tough conditions and a lot of pressure-packed golf. It was fun, I think the girls enjoyed it, and it was certainly fun to watch them battling out there. We did a lot of great things. We’re going to hold our heads up high, move forward, and look forward to hosting the national championship next year (at Vanderbilt Legends Club).”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/22/womens-golf-finishes-final-round-in-10th-at-ncaas/feed/1Women’s golf tied for sixth at NCAAs, one round to gohttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/20/womens-golf-tied-for-sixth-at-ncaas-one-round-to-go/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/20/womens-golf-tied-for-sixth-at-ncaas-one-round-to-go/#commentsSat, 21 May 2011 02:25:07 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=1628Vanderbilt’s women’s golf team finished its third round with a total of 895 (297-294-304) and is currently in a tie for sixth at plus-31 heading into the final round on Saturday in Bryan, Texas.

UCLA (plus-13) leads Purdue (plus-19) with both teams yet to finish up their third rounds. UCLA’s Tiffany Lua (minus-5 through 14 holes in the third round) leads the chase for an individual title.

After a delay of one hour, fifty minutes in the middle of the day, six teams were unable to finish their rounds and will have to complete them on Saturday morning. The weather delay put a damper on Vanderbilt’s round. When play resumed at 5:20 p.m., the Commodores were at 2-over par for the day, but two-plus hours later and a substantial increase in the wind, Vanderbilt finished with a 16-over-par 304.

The Commodores will be in the afternoon session on the final day, with the time to be determined.

Anna Leigh Keith and Marina Alex posted Vanderbilt’s best two rounds of the day with a pair of 74s. Keith is in a tie for 12th with a two-over par, 218 (72-72-74), and Alex is in a tie for 26th with a 222 (72-76-74).

Vanderbilt also counted a 76 from sophomore Lauren Stratton and an 80 from freshman Rene Sobolewski. Megan Grehan finished her third round with a score of 83.

“I told them when we were finished, that we still had a chance to accomplish our goal when we got here, and that was to come away with a trophy (top four), something the program has never done,” Vanderbilt Coach Greg Allen said.

The Commodores were seventh at the 2010 NCAA Championship. Their highest finish came in 2004, when they were fifth.

“The conditions were really, really tough, and we got three solid rounds, and unfortunately we had to count a high number,” Allen said. “We got off to a pretty decent start, but we just didn’t respond after the delay. And then the conditions got really tough and it got really hard.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/20/womens-golf-tied-for-sixth-at-ncaas-one-round-to-go/feed/3Jersey Shore: Vandy men’s basketball going to Garden State in Novemberhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/18/jersey-shore-vandy-mens-basketball-going-to-garden-state-in-november/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2011/05/18/jersey-shore-vandy-mens-basketball-going-to-garden-state-in-november/#commentsWed, 18 May 2011 21:36:38 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=1614The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team will take part in the 2011 Legends Classic on Nov. 19 and 21 along with Texas, N.C. State and Oregon State. The games will be played at IZOD Center in the New Jersey Meadowlands Sports Complex.

This is part of a 12-team event, with each of the aforementioned four teams hosting two games from Nov. 13-17 before traveling to the Garden State the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.

Vanderbilt will advance to New Jersey for the “championship rounds” regardless of the outcome of the two games it hosts as part of the tournament. Opponents for the “regional round” games have not yet been announced.

Matchups for the championship rounds, television information and the entire bracket will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the championship rounds go on sale at 11 a.m. CT Thursday, May 19, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

In the first four years of its existence, the Legends Classic has featured six teams that advanced to at least the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Texas (2008) and Pittsburgh (2009) advanced to the Elite Eight and Michigan State (2010) played in the Final Four. Syracuse won the 2010 Legends Classic with wins over Georgia Tech and Michigan.

The 2011 Legends Classic is the most recent of many early-season tournaments for the Commodores under Coach Kevin Stallings. Last year, Vanderbilt played in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The team played in the 2009 Maui Invitational, 2008 Cancun Challenge and 2007 South Padre Invitational.

Vanderbilt got excellent news last month when Jeffery Taylor, John Jenkins and Festus Ezeli announced they would return to school rather than enter their names in the NBA Draft. Those decisions are certain to garner the team some very high rankings entering the 2011-12 season.

The junior right-hander from Smyrna fanned 10 over five innings on Thursday at Hawkins Field in leading his Gold team over the Black 6-1 in the first of three annual inter-squad scrimmages to conclude fall practice.

Gray struck out nine of the final 10 batters he faced between the second and fifth innings, his fastball clocking in at no less than 96 mph. He allowed two hits.

Left-hander Grayson Garvin, who appears to be in line to take over a spot in the Commodores’ weekend rotation this coming season, took the loss for the Black – the victim of some well-placed bunts and hard hits in the fifth inning by the Gold.

Gray and Garvin each pitched three scoreless innings in their starts during Vandy’s two-game exhibition series with Texas last weekend in Austin. The Commodores split those games, winning 7-2 and losing 7-5.

The Black & Gold series continues at 6 tonight. The finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2010/10/22/sonny-gray-dominates-black-gold-opener/feed/3Texas series is Corbin’s fall treat to baseball teamhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2010/08/26/texas-trip-is-corbins-fall-treat-to-baseball-team/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/2010/08/26/texas-trip-is-corbins-fall-treat-to-baseball-team/#commentsThu, 26 Aug 2010 16:48:39 +0000Jeff Lockridgehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/vanderbilt/?p=984Vanderbilt and Texas should have two of the most talented baseball teams in the country this coming season, both boasting future first-round draft picks and College World Series aspirations.

There will be a sneak preview on Oct. 15 and 17 in Austin.

Commodores Coach Tim Corbin surprised his team on Wednesday with the news of the two-game, fall series with the Longhorns – news he said his players were excited to hear.

Both squads fell one win short of the College World Series this past June. Vanderbilt lost in the third game of its Super Regional to Florida State 7-6, while No. 2 national seed Texas fell to in-state rival TCU 4-1. Had they won, Vanderbilt and Texas would have met in the first round in Omaha.

The October games will not count toward spring records, but two games must be removed from Vanderbilt’s spring schedule to keep from exceeding the NCAA’s allotted number of games in a school year.

Corbin said that was an easy call to make because the Commodores’ RPI (strength of schedule) is so strong, that subtracting two games should have no impact when it comes time for NCAA Tournament seeding.

Vanderbilt should be ranked high in the preseason polls after keeping all of its high school signees and having junior slugger Aaron Westlake and senior pitcher Taylor Hill opt to return for a fourth year on campus.

Corbin must find some replacements in the bullpen for right-handers Chase Reid and Russell Brewer, who chose to sign with the Cardinals and Rockies, respectively, as well as southpaw Richie Goodenow, who transferred to Lipscomb for his final year while pursuing his graduate’s degree.